Tag Archive for resolutions

Stick To Your Fitness Resolution

So, how ya’ doing with that fitness resolution? If it’s not going well you’re not alone.

Right about now people put fitness plans on the shelf, so GenuLines is here with a little push to get you going!

Stick To Your Fitness Resolution

We’re well into the new year. January gives many of us a sense of renewal.
 
There’s a common theme here.
 
Our resolutions involve things we’d like to change or achieve in the new year.
One of the more common resolutions involves fitness.
 
We want to look better. Or get healthier.
 
Or we’d like to get a little stronger.
 
fitness tools

 

Failure

Unfortunately, the majority of New Year’s resolutions fail. The fiery motivation felt in late December to mid January begins to wane.
 
By February, we find ourselves at the same place we were the year before.
 
Fitness goals have a way of going unfulfilled. If you’ve ever spent much time in a gym, you know the routine.
 
For the entire month of January members line up at every piece of equipment in the building. The place starts to resemble Times Square.

Good deals?

Advertisements flood the media with discount gym membership rates. They tempt you with all sorts of shiny new pieces of equipment.
 
They promise to transform your body in no time at all.
 
Today we’re going to break down a few tips to help you hit your fitness goals for the rest of the year.

1. Keep Things Simple

It’s easy to slip into overwhelm when you start a new fitness journey. You have to figure out which workout routine to start.
 
What foods to eat. What equipment you’ll need and what to wear to the gym.
 
These can get in the way of your goal.Fitness, as well as life in general, is best kept simple.
 
The best workout routine is the one you’ll stick to. And your nutrition regimen shouldn’t be rocket science either.
 
You know what foods are good for you and what is junk. The most important factor in your fitness success is consistency.

2. Set Reasonable Goals

The media can make drastic body transformations seem like an overnight process. Their ads give you hope that you’ll look like the models used to promote these products.
 
Even more comical are the timeframes in these advertisements. How many times have you heard, “In only 15 minutes per day, 3 times per week, you’ll finally have those six-pack abs?”
 
This is unrealistic since physical changes to your physique don’t work this way.
 
Fitness is about the long game. As you begin your journey, know that while you WILL see progress, it doesn’t happen overnight.
 
Don’t plan gym visits 7 days a week and eating nothing but rice and chicken from a Tupperware container. Set goals that you can stick to.
 
Start small. Like holding yourself accountable to 3 workouts per week.
 
And resist the call of late-night junk food.

3. Develop A Strong “Why”

As we’ve already discussed, fitness is about consistency. The incredible sense of motivation and enthusiasm you feel at the start WILL come and go.
 
If your only goal to work out is to “look better,” keep one thing in mind. There may be a lot of days when that’s just not enough.
 
If you’re going to stick to your fitness goals this year, have a reason why. One that’s strong enough to stick to when the motivation cools off.
 
When the excitement isn’t there and you’d much rather stay in and watch television instead.
 
Your “why” has to be unique to you. Find whatever that is and use it to push through the hard days!
 
JohnK 1-31-2022
 
stick figure hears about fitnessOverheard: “It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit.”
                          ~Socrates
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for fitness

Five Effective Ways to Find Inspiration

Inspiration can come to you in a flash. But it can also avoid you when you need it most. 

GenuLines invites you to read on for some ways to get access to this thing called inspiration.

(you can listen to the article by clicking on below or scroll down to read)

____________________

 

banner to help inspiration

Five Effective Ways to Find Inspiration

light bulb of inspirationAt a loss for inspiration? Here are five techniques you can use to try and coax something new and exciting out of your brain.
 
They won’t always work, but give them a shot. They may just surprise you!
 
 
 
Go for a Walk
Walks are inspiring for many reasons. For starters, they allow us to take a break from what we’re doing and to change our environment.
 
In turn, this leads to new input. This can help us to gain a new perspective on whatever problem or task we’re wrestling with.
 
At the same time, walking is a monotonous task that allows our default mode network to kick in.
 
You could end up daydreaming, which is often, a source of great inspiration.

Ask the Right Questions

Sometimes, inspiration is merely asking the right questions. This can help to re-frame the problem and see it in a new way.
 
Let’s say you’re wondering how to solve a problem and you can’t come up with an answer. Make up a name.
 
Then try asking yourself how ‘Johnny’ would approach it. Likewise, instead of thinking about what you want something to be, decide what you don’t want it to be.

Take a Break

Sometimes, the best thing you can do to spark some creativity or solve a problem is to take a break. With a time-out, you stop trying to force the idea.
 
You ease your stress, and that lets ideas come to you much easier. This is why we’re often encouraged to sleep on big decisions.
 
Listen to Music
Music can be a great inspiration. It alters our mood and energy level and takes us to different places.
 
Often, you’ll find that music can leave you lost in thought. So try listening to some tracks while you mull over a subject, and see if that helps.

Talk it Over

You’ve seen ideas depicted as light bulbs. Or, as lightning strikes that show up in a flash, fully formed.
 
When you ask them most people admit that their best ideas formed slowly. They’ll tell you that they gestated for days, months, or even years before showing up.
 
Often, the best ideas come to us when we discuss them with other people. Even if we’re just thinking aloud, this can help us to see new perspectives.
 
And it can lead to new breakthroughs.
 
JohnK 1-28-2020
 

stick figure talking about inspirationOverheard: “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out”

                                        ~John Wooden
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer about inspiration
 
 
 

2020 Vision For a New Year

So 2020 has arrived. You’ve looked forward to it. ‘Gonna make lots of changes. But will you actually make those changes?

GenuLines is here to take inventory of some of the most popular resolutions, and to add a few you may want to consider. 

We begin with a look back at a GenuLines post from 2011 

Ready..set..2020!

Happy New Year 2020We’re off to the resolution races- lose 20 pounds, move to a nicer address, take that tropical vacation.

As we move into another year I know that many of us are asking: What is it that really matters this year?

 

Are your New Year’s resolutions about the small things–getting organized, losing weight, getting in shape, being a little kinder…or about something wider and deeper?

There’s nothing wrong with making small commitments, but are they enough for you and who you intend to become, what you know you must do in this world?

Or are you ready to step into something bigger and more radical–daring to fulfill your passion to evolve not only a better self but a better world and a more enlightened future?

May I suggest some inward inspection to start the process? Ask yourself:

  • What is happening in my life?
  • How is my health?
  • How is/are my relationship(s)? Really, how are they?
  • How are my finances? 
  • Do I enjoy my work?

Just a few ideas to take care of the inner self so that the outer results might be more satisfying.

 

call to action for 2020

 

List of goals for 2020

 

 

Happy New Year!

JohnK 1-1-2020

chiforyourself.com home

 

stick figure listening for 2020 tipsOverheard:  “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

                                                         ~Seneca

 

 

 

 

 

Article Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

 

 

disclaimer about 2020

 

 

 

 

3 Steps to Creating New Habits

 
Let’s talk about forming new habits. There are times in our lives when we want to create new and better habits for ourselves.
 
This could include getting into the habit of eating healthier. It might be drinking more water. Or it could be moving more and taking the dog for a daily walk. Or it could be work-related, or spiritual, or…
 
There are so many areas in our lives we can improve and make easier if we create new habits. 
 
Getting into the habit of doing something is often easier said than done. We seem to form bad habits without any effort, but getting into a “good” habit can be a little more challenging. 
 
arrows toward habits
 
We’ll break it down into a three-step process. This will make it easy to follow until you’ve internalized the new behavior and made it a true habit. You’ll do it without having to think about it. Like brushing your teeth. 
 
Decide What You Want To Do 
 
The first step is to decide what the new habit is. Be as specific as possible. Be bold. Don’t tell yourself you want to exercise more. Say something like “I will go for a 30-minute walk every single day.” Deciding what your new habit will be and committing to when and how you’re going to do it, is half the battle. 
 
Remind Yourself To Get It Done 
 
The next few days should be smooth sailing. You’re motivated and excited to get this done. Sticking to your new habit isn’t an issue. But a few days in you’ll notice that it’s easy to slip back into old habits. 
 
Say it’s raining and you’re not feeling like going out and walking. Or the hours in your day seem to be getting away from you. This is when it’s important to have a daily reminder. Set an alert on your phone or add the new habit to your daily to-do list for a while. 
 
Make It Part Of Your Routine Until It Becomes A Habit 
 
It takes some time before a new behavior becomes a true habit. Until then, a routine will work to your best advantage.
 
A routine will help you solidify the habit. This way you won’t have to spend a lot of willpower or rely on daily reminders. 
 
Make that daily walk part of your after-dinner routine. Or switch from grabbing a snack at the vending machine at work at 10:00 in the morning to packing a healthy snack. 
 
You can do this! Decide to create the new habit. Practice the routine until it’s second nature and you’ll be well on your way to forming a new good habit. 
 
JohnK 1-17-2018
 
 
 
 
Image for overheard for habit formingOverheard:  “Whatever ought to be, can be”
                     ~ James Rouse
 
 
 
 
 
 

Got Resol-YOU-tions ?

 

Ready..set..2013!

We’re off to the resolution races- lose 20 pounds, move to a nicer address, take that tropical vacation.

As we move into another year I know that many of us are asking: What is it that really matters this year?

Are your New Year’s resolutions about the small things–getting organized, losing weight, getting in shape, being a little kinder…or about something wider and deeper?

There’s nothing wrong with making small commitments, but are they enough for you and who you intend to become, what you know you must do in this world?

Or are you ready to step into something bigger and more radical–daring to fulfill your passion to evolve not only a better self, but a better world and a more enlightened future?

May I suggest some inward inspection to start the process? Ask yourself:

  • What is happening in my life?
  • How is my health?
  • How is/are my relationship(s)? Really, how are they?
  • How are my finances? Do I enjoy my work?

Just a few ideas to take care of the inner self so that the outer results might be more satisfying.
Happy New Year!

 

JohnK  1-1-2013

 

chiforyourself.com